So now that my starter is fixed and everything seems to be running smoothly I am going to get rid of my rattling cat. Question is I don't want a cat anymore and was wondering if anyone knows anything about Flex pipes?
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...ier=255970_0_0_

This is what I am thinking in place of the cat. It is stainless and straight through...which should be great for when I slap my new muffler on for sound.
Any thoughts on this?

 

Will taking out the cat have any affect on the O2 sensors?

 

in the OLD days we would take the cat out. then use a heavy metal rod and punch the guts out of it. then put it back in. and it looks like it is fine.. BUT it might have a rattle of funny sound. that was a long time ago. i would not use flex tubing for exhaust. good luck.

 

Yeah, but not in polite company. Don't you have smog testing in Pierce County? Ya think you'll pass without a cat?

 

I've read a lot of people do exhaust work and just tie the 2nd O2 up onto the frame and never get any CEL's because of it. I will be leaving both of them right where they are, Just going to cut right at both ends of the Cat.
A lot of cars that I have worked on have flex pipes just like the one I'm interested in to cut back on exhaust rattle. I am really feeling this for simplicity sake...

Also where I live there is no testing, so I am golden!

 

You can put a non-fowler on the o2 sensor and it wont throw a code(just moves the sensor out of the pipe so it reads a lower temp) but flex pipe is a bad idea. Not sure where youre located but in PA its only legal on a diesel.

 

Well its either a flex pipe or just a straight pipe where the cat used to be...
Why is everyone so against the flex pipe though? Straight pipe is similar to a flex pipe, plus for people that have hollowed out their cats you would have noticed a difference in performance and noise I am sure?
Now I'm not looking for a real performance boost, just ease of instalation and to keep cost down. $25-$30 for me to install a flex pipe vs $150 to have someone weld up a new cat...Doesn't that seem intelligent for those that don't need to do emissions?

 

Back in the '70's, I had a custom van that I put side exhaust on. To connect the headers to the side pipes, they used flex pipe. It burned through within 6 months. I replaced the flex with solid pipe and didn't have any more problems. It might be cheaper at first, but then add in the expense to redo it again in a few months.
Z1_zps4f34c368.jpg

 

Its cheaper to get a piece of straight pipe... Use that and be done with it.

 

Fine Fine. Straight pipe it is! Just thought I would be different...
So just to clarify you have to pull the rear O2 and put a cap on it when you zip it to the frame? You cant leave it it attached when you cut the cat?

Also on a side note...bad a** van! Wish I had one like that!